updated 10:50 am EDT, Fri August 8, 2014

Developers have until November 5 to hew to Facebook's will on the matter

Facebook has rolled out its latest API, and with it come some changes to policies that it expects developers to abide by. The first change requires developers that include in-app purchases to disclose this in the app's description, either on Facebook or other supported platforms. More importantly, the change also requires that users not be rewarded in-game with content or other benefits for "liking" a page.

The former change is likely to bring Facebook in line with industry trends towards warning users about in-app purchases before they become a problem, and a target for investigation and lawsuits. The latter policy modification is clearly an effort to prevent artificial boosting of "likes" to prevent artificial manipulation of Facebook's search and product placement algorithms.

Developers can still incentivize players to login to an app, check in at a physical location, or enter a promotion on an app's page. The policy only affects "likes." Developers are expected to comply with the Facebook guidance change before November 5.